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Floating pontoons have played a supreme and indispensable role in crises and disasters for both civil and military purposes. Floating bridges and ferries are exposed to blast loadings in the case of wars or terrorist attacks. The protection effectiveness of sacrificial cladding subjected to a blast was numerically investigated. In this study, a steel ferry has been simulated and exposed to side explosions with different explosive charges at certain stand-off distances, according to military standards from NATO and American standard TM5. In this simulation, nonlinear three-dimensional hydro-code numerical simulation ANSYS autodyn-3d has been used. The results reported that the ferry could withstand a charge of 5 kg TNT at a stand-off distance of 1 m without failure. The main objective of this research is to achieve a design that would increase the capacity against the blast loading with minimal plastic deformation in the absence of any failure in the ferry. Therefore, an innovative mitigation system has been proposed to dissipate the blast energy of the explosion based on the scientific theory of impedance using sacrificial cladding. The new mitigation system used a specific structural system in order to install the existing pontoon structure without any distraction. The response, elastic deformations, plastic deformations and plastic failure of the ferry were illustrated in this paper. Furthermore, the results revealed that the proposed mitigation system could mitigate more than 50% of the blast waves. The new design revealed promising results, which makes it suitable for mitigating blast waves. Finally, the results were provided with a reference for the preliminary design and application of sacrificial cladding for structural protection against blast waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of pepper plants is usually carried out on dry land, but at this time there is a lot of conversion of pepper plantations to other plantations and even housing. This study aimed to investigate the growth ratio of floating agricultural pepper and dry land, study the best Mg dosage for the growth of pepper with float-ing and dry land systems, andinvestigate the planting system on soil moisture content, pH and Mg content of soil and plants. The research was carried out from September 2020 to January 2021 in the gardens of the Soil Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Indralaya. This research was conducted using the Split Plot Design method with 2 factors. As the main plot is the farming system, namely: S1 = Floating. S2 = On dry land (conventional). Subplots were Mg fertilizer with doses per polybag: Mg0 = No Mg fertilizer, Mg1 = 4g plant-1 , Mg2 = 8 g plant-1 , Mg3 = 12 g plant-1 , Mg4 = 16 g plant-1 . Observations were made on the increase in plant height, number of leaves, elemental content mg, soil water content, soil pH. The results showed that the planting system had an effect on plant height, number of leaves in the 11th week and root length, Mg doses did not affect the growth of pepper and soil. The soil water content of the floating system is higher than the conventional system, whereas the pH is higher in the conventional system than the floating system.

Sidobandung Village is a village that will develop the potential of the village as a tourism village.The Solar Power Generation System is a power generation equipment. One of the potentials that has been successfully built is a reservoir or in local terms it is called a reservoir. With the construction of the reservoir in this village, tourism activities began to be seen. The number of visitors who came succeeded in increasing the village's income. Currently only open for daytime conditions. In its development, there is a desire to open services at night. The problem is how to reduce electricity costs. One of the facilities to support this is a floating building for the generation of floating PLTS which was built in collaboration with one of the expert vocational colleges in the field of floating buildings located in Surabaya. This Floating PLTS is a new renewable energy source, in accordance with the village's wish to become an educational tourism village. This floating PLTS is expected to be able to supply 30 lamps each having a power of 50 watts for street lighting around the reservoir. Another bean is colorful lights along the edge of the pond to give a beautiful impression of the view of the pond. The total lamp load is about 100 watts. The PLTS system that was built consists of 10 solar cell panels, each solar cell panel has a capacity of 330 WP. With a total of 4 batteries with specifications 12 Volt 200 Ah. This system is being evaluated. The evaluation results show that the battery capacity is only able to supply 15 lamps for 12 hours. So to supply all the desired load requirements, a total of 12 batteries are needed.

AbstractVegetation around springs and ponds causes water to re-infiltrate into the ground and recharge underground reservoirs. In the study of ponds and springs in Lorestan province, 108 species were identified which belong to 35 families and 64 genera. Depending on the habitat and life form, these species constitute emergent 41%, marginal 31%, floating 23%, and submerged 5%. Nuphar lutea were present in the habitat of the springhead of Niloufar and Potamogeton alpinus in the Gahar Lake and the Amir spring. Both habitats have cold and clear water with no contaminants. Typha latifolia is mostly found in Pol-e-Dokhtar tropical wetlands. The genera Carex, Cyprus, Juncus, Phragmites, Mentha, and Veronica were present in almost all wetland habitats and springs. In the springhead of Niloufar, where the pollutants are spread, Sparganium erectum and Sorghum halepense are highly concentrated but Nuphar lutea is very scattered. In most Peatlands, in addition to the marginal species, there was a perennial wild species called Hordeum brevisubulatum, which usually has spreading rhizomes. They were found in saturated and muddy soils. More than 81% of wetland species are present in more than one chorotype. In mountain springs and spring wetlands, endemic species of Rorippa kurdica were present but limited, probably due to dispersal barriers or special habitat conditions. Failure to pay attention to wetlands as storage sponges and water infiltration will lead to species extinction and ecological damage.IntroductionWetlands are responsible for charging underground water sources. Water, plant species, and soil are the main characteristics to determine the type of wetland. Plants of wetland (hydrophytes) must tolerate soil oxygen deficiency, potential waterlogging and drying, nutrient deficiency, low pH, high salinity, and other limiting factors. One of the important benefits provided by wetlands in improving water quality is filtering sediments and nutrients in surface water. The socio-economic values provided by wetlands are significant. Lorestan province is considered one of the poles of the country's water resources due to the diversity of its climate and the capabilities of its mountainous nature. The wetlands of Lorestan province can be divided into five main groups: 1) Ponds, 2) springs and wet meadows, 3) waterfalls, 4) mountainous and snowy wetlands, and 5) wetlands of the rivers of the province. This division in the hydrological rhythm has caused differences in the plant species of these regions. In order to preserve and prevent further destruction, identifying the flora of these wetlands and their environmental value is very important. Materials and MethodsTo prepare the floristic list, the conventional method of taxonomic studies and regional surveys was used. The location of the wetlands was identified and their exact location was recorded, and the geographic coordinates and height above sea level were determined using GPS. During different seasons from 2014 to 2018, plant specimens were collected, identified, pressed, and numbered which are deposited in the herbarium of Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. Vascular plants of the wetlands are classified according to Sculthorpe's (1967) idea into four groups of marginal, emergent, floating, and submerged. The chorotype of plant species was also determined by referring to different sources. ResultsIn the present study, 108 plant species belonging to 35 families and 64 plant genera were identified in the areas of Sarab-Niloufer, Sarab Amir, Sarab Zaz, Poldakhtar wetlands, Aligudarz, and Gahar Lakes. According to the habitat and type of life, emergent with 45 species (41.66 percent), marginal with 34 species (31.48 percent), submerged aquatic plants with 24 species (22.22 percent), and floating aquatic plants with 5 species (4.62 percent) were present in the study areas. Discussion and ConclusionOn the bases of the findings of the study, plant species of Lorestan wetlands, based on the growth method and physical relationship with water and soil, were categorized into four groups:1) Marginal species, moisture-loving: plants in this range are exposed to water level fluctuations on an intermittent or seasonal basis compared to the range of dryland plants. The following spices can be mentioned from this group: Sonchus maritimus L., Cirsium spectabile DC, Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Tussilago farfara L., Arctium lappa L., Equisetum ramosissimum Desf., Bellis perennis L. and Sisymbrium irio L. These species usually grow on the side of springs and meadows.2) Emergent plants: the most common species of this group were present in large monocot families that tend to dominate freshwater marshes. Among these families: Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae and Typhaceae are worth mentioning.3) A group of floating plants: yellow lotus species (Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith), blue lentil (Lemna spp.), watercress (Nasturtium officinale R.Br.), and amphibious grass (Persicaria amphibia (L.) Gray) are among the floating species identified in the study areas.4) Submerged plants group: in the studied areas, the species of potamogeton alpinus, potamogeton crispus L., Utricularia minor L., hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum L.), thousand leaves (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), Ruppia maritima L., and blue sedge (Batrachium trichophyllum (Chaix) Bosch) were identified. These plants are mostly under water. They are rarely seen by the public. Almost all of these plants had roots attached to the substrate. Submerged rooted species obtain the majority of nutrients they need from the bottom sediments.Finally, it was observed that soil erosion has increased in the areas where the springs and ponds have been destroyed, and also the severity of floods caused by seasonal rains is very high. In addition to this, wetlands are among the wealth-producing ecosystems in Lorestan province. Damaging the plant species of wetlands and drying them while removing their benefitscould cause environmental crises including turning them into centers of fine dust and creating dust.

Self-sustained chaotic system has the capability to maintain its own motion through directly absorbing energy from the steady external environment, showing extensive application potential in energy harvesters, self-cleaning, biomimetic robots, encrypted communication and other fields. In this paper, a novel light-powered chaotic self-floating system is proposed by virtue of a nonlinear spring and a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) balloon, which is capable of self-floating under steady illumination due to self-beating. The corresponding theoretical model is formulated by combining dynamic LCE model and Newtonian dynamics. Numerical calculations show that the periodic self-floating of LCE balloon can occur under steady illumination, which is attributed to the light-powered self-beating of LCE balloon with shading coating. Furthermore, the chaotic self-floating is presented to be developed from the periodic self-floating through period doubling bifurcation. In addition, the effects of system parameters on the self-floating behaviors of the system are also investigated. The detailed calculations demonstrate that the regime of self-floating LCE balloon depends on a combination of system parameters. The chaotic self-floating system of current study may inspire the design of other chaotic self-sustained motion based on stimuli-responsive materials, and have guiding significance for energy harvesters, self-cleaning, biomimetic robots, encrypted communication and other applications.

Floating solar power has a higher power generation efficiency than existing solar power generation methods. It is easier to secure in an installation area as well as to connect to other renewable energy sources. Floating solar power is considered an essential component for achieving carbon neutrality because it compensates for the shortcomings of existing solar power systems and maximizes their advantages. In this study, a performance comparison was conducted between pivotless tracking-type and fixed-type solar power systems. These systems were installed at the Irwol Reservoir in Suwon, South Korea, and monitored for comparison between May 2019 and June 2020. The tracking-type system generated approximately 14% more energy than the fixed-type system; the performance was maximized in May, which showed 25.63% more output power, and the performance was minimized in winter, with 3% more generated power. Owing to its pivotless structure, this system can be used in the solar industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating platforms are complex structures used in deep water and high wind speeds. However, a methodology should be defined to have a stable offshore structure and not fail dynamically in severe environmental conditions. This paper aims to provide a method for estimating failure load or ultimate load on the anchors of floating systems in integrating wind and tidal turbines in New Zealand. Using either wind or tidal turbines in areas with harsh water currents is not cost-effective. Also, tidal energy, as a predictable source of energy, can be an alternative for wind energy when cut-in speed is not enough to generate wind power. The most expensive component after the turbine is the foundation. Using the same foundation for wind and tidal turbines may reduce the cost of electricity. Different environment scenarios as load cases have been set up to test the proposed system's performance, capacity and efficiency. Available tidal records from the national institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) have been used to find the region suitable for offshore energy generation and to conduct simulation model runs. Based on the scenarios, Terawhiti in Cook Strait with 110 m water height was found as the optimized site. It can be seen that the proposed floating hybrid system is stable in the presence of severe environmental conditions of wind and wave loadings in Cook Strait and gives a procedure for sizing suction caisson anchors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tunnel Construction / Suidao Jianshe (Zhong-Yingwen Ban) is the property of Tunnel Construction Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Hypertension exhibits a circadian rhythm and drugs need to be released at the time when the blood pressure is elevated most. This elevation is pronounced at 7 pm and at 4 am. Atenolol is an anti-hypertensive drug with an absorption window mainly in the upper section of the gastrointestinal tract. The present investigation was aimed at designing floating pulsatile capsules for dual release of atenolol in the stomach for effective management of hypertension. Materials and Methods: The floating pulsatile capsules designed had different components: a formaldehyde-treated capsule body; an untreated cap; a polymer plug layer, containing a polymer; two atenolol-containing immediaterelease tablets and a swellable polymer layer. The polymer plug layer was made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (K4M or E50) and xanthan gum alone or in combination. The capsules were characterized for weight variation, percent drug content, in-vitro release behaviour and floating property. Results: The outcomes of the in-vitro studies showed that lag duration between the two pulses of drug release from the formulations can be adjusted by manipulating the composition of the plug layer. The optimized floating pulsatile capsule provided the first pulse of the drug immediately after administration to cover the first point of the symptoms. It provided the drug release from second pulse after a lag time of 8 hr for covering up the second point of the symptoms in the early morning. Conclusion: Thus, the dual-release floating pulsatile capsule designed may be used for chronological treatment of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are attractive for low-cost bioelectricity generation. In this study, a multiwalled carbon nanotube paper (MCNTP) was fabricated by a simple method for use as the anode and cathode electrodes in a stab-type membrane-less SMFC (SSMFC). Activated carbon powder, carbon fibers, and cellulose fibers were bound by multiwalled carbon nanotube paint to form the MCNTP. As a result, the MCNTP exhibited high conductivity, flexibility, and durability. In addition, the SSMFC was designed as a module mounted with three anodes in series and a floating air cathode. The SSMFC could be activated on demand by simply stabbing in the wet soil. Experimental results showed that the floating cathode outperformed the non-floating one. The SSMFC generated the output shortly after being plugged into the wet soil. The maximum power density was at the level of 60–70 mW/m2 for three separate experiment cycles. Additionally, a single SSMFC was used to power a clock as an example to demonstrate its practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotid free-floating thrombus (CFT) is a rare cause of stroke describing an intraluminal thrombus that is loosely associated with the arterial wall and manifesting as a filling defect fully surrounded by flow on vascular imaging. Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus among experts on the ideal treatment for this pathology. Retrospective analysis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients diagnosed with CFT on computed tomography angiogram (CTA) between January 2015-March 2023. We aimed to compare two treatment regimens: anticoagulation (ACT) and antiplatelet (APT) in the treatment of CFT. APT regimens included the use of dual or single antiplatelets (DAPT or SAPT; aspirin, clopidogrel and ticagrelor) and ACT regimens included the use of direct oral anticoagulants, warfarin, heparin or low molecular weight heparin +/- ASA. Patients that underwent mechanical thrombectomy were excluded. During study time there were 8252 acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations, of which 135 (1.63 %) patients were diagnosed with CFT. Sixty-six patients were included in our analysis. Patients assigned to APT were older (60.41years ± 12.82; p < 0.01). Other demographic variables were similar between ACT and APT groups. Complete CFT resolution on repeat vascular imaging was numerically higher at 30 days (58.8 vs 31.6 %, respectively; p = 0.1) and at latest follow-up (70.8 vs 50 %; p = 0.1) on ACT vs APT, respectively without reaching statistical significance. Similarly, there was numerically higher rates of any ICH with ACT compared to APT but it did not achieve statistical significance (27.6 % vs 13.5 %; p = 0.5). There were similar rates of PH1/2 hemorrhagic transformation, independence at discharge and similar hospital length of stay between ACT and APT groups. Patients assigned to APT were more likely to be discharged on their assigned treatment compared to those assigned to ACT (86.5 vs 55.2 %; p < 0.001). The rate of 30-day recurrent stroke was comparable among ACT and APT at 30 days (3.4 vs 0 %; p = 0.1, respectively). Subgroup analysis comparing exclusive ACT vs Dual APT lead to similar results. Our study showed comparable efficacy and safety outcomes in CFT patients who were exclusively managed medically with ACT vs APT. Larger prospective studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundFloatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy), an intervention that attenuates exteroceptive sensory input to the nervous system, has recently been found to reduce state anxiety across a diverse clinical sample with high levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS). To further examine this anxiolytic effect, the present study investigated the affective and physiological changes induced by Floatation-REST and assessed whether individuals with high AS experienced any alterations in their awareness for interoceptive sensation while immersed in an environment lacking exteroceptive sensation.MethodsUsing a within-subject crossover design, 31 participants with high AS were randomly assigned to undergo a 90-minute session of Floatation-REST or an exteroceptive comparison condition. Measures of self-reported affect and interoceptive awareness were collected before and after each session, and blood pressure was measured during each session.ResultsRelative to the comparison condition, Floatation-REST generated a significant anxiolytic effect characterized by reductions in state anxiety and muscle tension and increases in feelings of relaxation and serenity (p < .001 for all variables). Significant blood pressure reductions were evident throughout the float session and reached the lowest point during the diastole phase (average reduction >12 mm Hg). The float environment also significantly enhanced awareness and attention for cardiorespiratory sensations.ConclusionsFloatation-REST induced a state of relaxation and heightened interoceptive awareness in a clinical sample with high AS. The paradoxical nature of the anxiolytic effect in this sample is discussed in relation to Wolpe's theory of reciprocal inhibition and the regulation of distress via sustained attention to present moment visceral sensations such as the breath.

The global COVID-19 outbreak has hit the world in the last two years. Indonesia itself recorded positive cases of COVID-19 of approximately 4 million cases as of September 15, 2021. In addition, the frequency of occurrence of natural disasters in Indonesia, which is relatively high every year, requires our collective attention. In early 2021, there have been several natural disasters, including floods in South Kalimantan, earthquakes in West Sulawesi, and others. If the impact of the natural disaster makes residents must do the evacuation, a proper shelter (evacuee camp) and prioritizes health protocols are needed. Therefore, this study discusses the design innovation of disaster response shelters in the form of smart folding and floating shelters designed for a shelter with a capacity of one family (4-5 people). This capacity limitation is to maintain health protocols and suppress the transmission of the Coronavirus in evacuation areas. Our designed shelter prepared in a compact form to facilitate evacuation mobility and can be implemented in all types of disasters with a folding and floating structure system (the shelter can float and be folded). The material used is light steel as the main structure and cork wall as a material that allows the shelter to float. We designed natural ventilation to regulate air circulation, integrated with an ultraviolet C (UVC) lamp. The UVC lamp is intended as a disinfectant against the Coronavirus. Thus, the application of natural ventilation and disinfection using UVC can provide a cleaner air supply. This air supply and circulation are shown in our simulation results using ANSYS Fluent. These results show that smart folding and floating shelter designs can be used for disaster mitigation.

Nutrient-efficient plants and agricultural systems could tackle issues resulting from conventional agriculture. Spiny chicory (Cichorium spinosum L.), a very adaptive, wild edible vegetable, is gaining commercial interest as a functional food. Floating-raft hydroponics is a method commonly used for the commercial cultivation of leafy vegetables due to numerous advantages compared to soil cultivation. In this paper, the simultaneous effects of different potassium, calcium and magnesium ratios and different electrical conductivity (EC) levels on the growth and mineral composition of hydroponically grown C. spinosum were investigated. Four nutrient solutions (NS) were compared, two NS with low EC (L, 2.4 dS/m) and two with high EC (H, 3.6 dS/m) with K:Ca:Mg ratios of either 50:40:10 or 40:50:10. The results showed no interactions between the two factors. No significant effects were observed on the fresh and dry weight, leaf number and leaf area. High EC levels increased the K content and decreased the Mn and Zn content in the leaf tissues. The 40:50:10 ratio led to increased Ca content in plant tissues. The Nitrate-N was only affected by the EC level and was increased under H conditions, whereas the total-N was not affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microspheres are promising drug delivery system with a particle size ranging from 1-1000 micrometer. Microspheres have relatively small particle size and efficient drug loading capacity. They have many advantages as a drug carrier especially extended drug effect and selective targeting of anticancer drugs for tumor cells. Microspheres have different types and can be formulated via several techniques allowing variety in their application as a drug delivery platform. Microspheres can be loaded with different types of drugs, they are biocompatible and can be prepared from biodegradable particles. Microspheres have been implemented for different routes of administration including buccal, oral, ocular and transdermal showing enhanced therapeutic effects. This review aims to highlight the advantages of microspheres, types of microspheres including (bioadhesive, floating, magnetic, radioactive and polymeric), different methods of preparation including (Single emulsion technique, Double emulsion method, Coacervation method, Spray drying technique, Polymerization techniques and Freeze Drying) and their pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering for Thermal Energy & Power / Reneng Dongli Gongcheng is the property of Journal of Engineering for Thermal Energy & Power and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The general physics of how objects float is only partly covered in most undergraduate fluid mechanics courses. Although Archimedes' principle is a standard topic in fluid statics, the role of surface tension in floating is rarely discussed in detail. For example, very few undergraduate textbooks, if any, mention that the total buoyancy force on a floating object includes the weight of the fluid displaced by the meniscus. This leaves engineering students without an understanding of a wide range of phenomena that occur at a low Bond number (the ratio of buoyancy to interfacial tension forces), such as how heavier-than-water objects can float at a gas-liquid interface. This article makes a case for teaching a more unified version of Archimedes' principle, which combines the effects of surface tension and hydrostatic pressure in calculating the total buoyancy on floating objects. Sample problems at the undergraduate level and two classroom demonstrations are described that reinforce the basic science concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though general improvement of quality of life has happened around the globe, statistics show that gastric cancer is still a very serious medical concern in some regions of the world. A big portion of malignant neoplasms that develop inside the stomach are linked to an infection of Helicobacter pylori; in fact, this pathogen has already been categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Still, the efficacy of current anti-H. pylori therapeutic approaches is insufficient and follows a worrying decreasing trend, mainly due to an exponential increase in resistance to key antibiotics. This work analyzes the clinical and biological characteristics of this pathogen, especially its link to gastric cancer, and provides a comprehensive review of current formulation trends for H. pylori eradication. Research effort has focused both on the discovery of new combinations of chemicals that function as optimized antibiotic regimens, and on the preparation of gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) to improve overall pharmacokinetics. Regarding the last topic, this review aims to summarize the latest trend in amoxicillin-loaded GRDDS, since this is the antibiotic that has shown the least bacterial resistance worldwide. It is expected that the current work could provide some insight into the importance of innovative options to combat this microorganism. Therefore, this review can inspire new research strategies in the development of efficient formulations for the treatment of this infection and the consequent prevention of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient pharmacokinetic characteristics may be associated with the widespread use of oral dosage forms in the treatment of disease. In some cases, the drug is barely soluble; in others, the formulation's rapid transit through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) makes it difficult to achieve therapeutic levels in body; in addition, some drugs must act locally due to a gastric pathology, but they remain in the stomach for only a short time. Numerous studies have focused on the development of formulations that are capable of enhancing all of these characteristics and extending the stomach residence duration. The prolonged stomach retention duration afforded by gastroretentive controlled drug delivery devices increases the therapeutic efficacy of many orally administered drugs. In the present investigation, we reviewed the advanced methods and polymers used to develop effective gastroretentive drug delivery systems. These methods include swelling and expansion, mucoadhesive, high density, low density, ion exchange, raft forming, magnetic, and floating drug delivery systems. The development of gastroretentive devices involves a broad array of polymeric materials. This work intends to expedite the development of innovative methods by offering a comprehensive understanding of unique gastroretentive approaches along with the polymeric materials utilised in the fabrication of gastroretentive drug delivery systems for oral drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the common geotechnical problems is the construction on soft soil and the improvement of its geotechnical properties to meet the design requirements. A stone column is one of the well-known techniques used to improve the geotechnical properties of soft soils. Sometimes, thick layers of soft soil imposed the designer to use floating stone columns for improvement of such soil; in this case, the designer will lose the end bearing of the stone column. In this study, the effects of several patterns of floating stone columns distribution under footing on the bearing capacity of soil and the distribution of excess porewater pressure are investigated. The soft soil used in this study has a very low undrained shear strength (cu) of 5.5 kPa and improved by several patterns of stone columns (single, two-linear, triangular, square, and quadrilateral). The stone column has a length of 180 mm and a diameter of 30 mm. The material of the stone column is poorly graded sand that has an angle of internal friction (48.5°) at a relative density of 65%. The results indicated a significant increase in the ultimate bearing capacity of soft soil when treated with floating stone columns despite the small ratio of area replacement and reducing the excess porewater pressure and settlement. Also, the ultimate bearing capacity of soil calculated from experimental work is compared with the corresponding values obtained from the proposed equations in the previous studies to evaluate the validity of using such equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floaters constitute the sexually mature but non-breeding part of populations. Despite being ubiquitous in most species, knowledge about floaters is scarce. Ignoring this significant number of individuals may strongly bias our understanding of population dynamics and sexual selection processes. We used the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor) to examine whether phenotypical and non-phenotypical variables from early and adult life predict reproductive status, focusing on the earliest age at which most individuals start to breed, when the percentage of floaters is the highest. We compiled data from a long-term study involving eight female and seven male cohorts of individuals PIT-tagged at birth. We compared a suite of nestling (condition, hatching date and brood size) and adult variables (condition, size and ornamentation) between floaters and breeders. We found that adult and nestling body condition strongly and positively influenced the likelihood of breeding in males. Path analysis revealed that male reproductive status could only be predicted by considering nestling body condition—the influence of this variable superseded adult body condition. Female reproductive status was only negatively associated with hatching date. Ornamentation was not associated with reproductive status in any of the sexes, although path analyses revealed that body condition was positively associated with throat feather length. We conclude that predictors of reproductive status are sex-specific in the spotless starling, suggesting an important role of body condition in access to breeding resources in males. Our results also highlight the long-term influence of early life on life trajectories and their potential implications on floating status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the floating of solid homogenous bodies with different simple shapes. The stable floating positions attained by the bodies are examined and some qualitative rules are derived to determine those positions. The sensitivity of those stable positions to the exact proportions of the bodies is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Environmental Science & Technology (10036504) is the property of Editorial Board of Environmental Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be used to generate electricity due to the potential for solar energy in Iran. Applying floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems is a new approach to utilizing PV systems in water. Most of Iran's energy consumption is supplied from fossil fuels, especially oil and gas. In recent years, Iran has faced environmental problems and air pollution. Electricity generation using fossil fuels has led to increased environmental pollution. Accordingly, PV systems can be used to generate electricity due to the potential for solar energy in Iran. The interest in predicting the energy production of PV power plants has increased in recent years. In this regard, the techno–economic–environmental study of constructing PV power plants is a basic process to encourage people to use solar energy. A techno–economic–environmental feasibility study has been performed to construct a 5-kW FPV and ground PV (GPV) power plant in a northern city of Iran. Also, the FPV system is compared with the ground PV system using MATLAB® Simulink and RETScreen® software. In this study, the effects of wind and water temperature have been considered. Also, a sensitivity analysis was performed due to the uncertainty in climatic conditions and the amount of PV energy generation. The simulation results show that due to the cooling effect for panels in the FPV system, the production capacity and panels' efficiency are respectively 19.47% and 27.98% higher than the those of the GPV system. In addition, the FPV system was found to have a 16.96% increase in the annual performance ratio. Overall, using the FPV system reduces the equity payback to 6.3 years (a 22.2% reduction compared to the GPV power plant). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aims to explore the pattern of external representation of suspending objects in a static fluid. The study used a qualitative descriptive method involving 57 elementary, junior, senior school, and university students. Data collection implemented a 30-item test covering the dominant context of suspending and partially floating and sinking. Some of phenomenographic steps were adapted in data analysis. Based on the data analysis, it can be concluded that there is a dominant external representation pattern, where there is a simplification of the depiction of suspending objects. Suspending position tends to be locked in a limited area, namely in the middle of the depth of the liquid. In the context of suspending objects' cuts, the cuts were generally represented by an upward shifting pattern. Factors that influence the pattern of representation are the involvement of intuition in conceptualizing the phenomena presented, and the conceptual aspect of density has not been integrated into the reasoning process for compiling external representations, both diagrams, and texts. Research limitation is presented in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to develop a novel methodology for the fatigue reliability analysis and design for a floating offshore wind turbine substructure using its fully coupled nonlinear dynamic responses in the time domain. The developed methodology offers a computationally efficient yet robust assessment for designing fatigue-critical welded joints on floating substructures. The methodology starts with the sea state selection based on the fatigue damage contribution of all the sea states in the scatter diagram. To this end, the dynamic response is analysed by fully coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations using OpenFAST. The resulting short-term fatigue loading is then used to estimate the hotspot stress history using the analytical solution for global structural analysis and the empirical solution for the stress concentration factor. The long-term fatigue damage is calculated as the joint probability-weighted sum of the short-term fatigue damage using Palmgren-Miner's linear damage rule. Afterwards, the selected sea states are used to perform dynamic response simulations with multiple random seeds, ensuring no significant accuracy loss. To obtain the probabilistic fatigue life prediction, a novel time-domain fatigue reliability analysis algorithm is developed based on the bootstrapping method, which creates a pool of short-term fatigue responses with different random seeds and combines them within a Monte Carlo Simulation. Finally, the fatigue reliability analysis considering the S-N and damage-tolerant approaches for design is carried out. • A novel methodology for the time-domain fatigue reliability analysis of FOWT substructures was developed. • Fully coupled dynamic responses were obtained through AHSE simulation using OpenFAST. • An algorithm for computationally efficient yet robust sea state selection was developed. • The fatigue reliability was analysed using Monte Carlo Simulations based on the S-N and Damage-tolerant design approaches. • The results indicated the design revision for the welded-tubular joints of the analysed FOWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating offshore wind turbines are perceived as a techno-economically attractive solution due to their huge potential, however, their Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE) has the potential to be further reduced, making it more competitive with current technology. The Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimisation (MDAO) method is considered a promising way to reduce LCoE. The substructure is expected to accounts for around 35% of the capital cost hence optimisation frameworks have been applied to this area in numerous studies. A difficulty with this method is creating a flexible and robust framework which can model all platform types (i.e., waterplane, ballast, and mooring stabilised configurations), which, simultaneously, remains computationally affordable. In this work, a concept selection method to rank the platform types based on their suitability for a given site is provided. The approach allows a reduction of the design space for an MDAO approach, creating substantial computational time savings. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method which is used in this work to rank the platform types in order of relevance for a given site. This technique allows a decision to be made when there are conflicting parameters such as cost and performance. The parameters are prescribed a weighting value by the user, representing the importance based on their specific point of view. In order to determine which platform is appropriate for a specific site, a number of criteria were set related to the site's water depth, tidal range, soil condition, and wave height. This determines which platform is most suitable based on the physical parameters related to the site. The ranking can be found by combining the weighting of each parameter, the criteria related to the site, and the physical characteristics of each site. In order to support our proposed method, a case study considering the recent Scotwind lease is performed, showing that the derived best solutions are largely in agreement with the platform types considered by the developers. • TOPSIS approach implemented to rank floating platforms for offshore wind energy. • Aim is to help with decision-making, reducing computational time of optimisations. • Considers site characteristics, to determine the best platform type. • The paper presents a case study and sensitivity analyses for the ScotWind sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The load sharing characteristics of a planetary gear train is one of its main performance. Many researches at home and abroad have shown that the floating effect of components in a planetary gear train has an important influence on load sharing characteristics of the system. In this paper,the relationship between sun gear and spline on the input shaft is considered. Also,friction of inner and outer teeth in splined connection as well as constraint floating of sun gear are simulated. The nonlinear opposite supporting force of the spline on the input shaft to the sun gear is established. Taken a 5-planetary gear transmission system as an example,its load sharing coefficients with different radial clearance of a spline are calculated by the lumped-mass method. The research result provides a basis for load sharing design of planetary gear trains.

Coastal waters are complex and dynamic areas with unique environmental attributes that complicate the vertical migration of microplastics (MPs). The MPs that enter coastal waters from diverse sources, including terrestrial, riverine, oceanic, and shoreline inputs undergo various aging pathways. In this study, the variations in the physiochemical characteristics of MPs undergoing various aging pathways and their vertical migration under dynamic conditions subjected to the effects of different MP characteristics and coastal environmental features were comprehensively explored. Opposite effects of aging on the vertical migration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic MPs were observed, with aging appearing to promote the dispersion of hydrophobic MPs but enhance the vertical migration of hydrophilic ones. The positive role of salinity and the negative role of humic acid (HA) concentrations on MP vertical migration were identified, and the mechanisms driving these effects were analyzed. Notably, intense turbulence not only promoted the floating of positively buoyant MPs but also reversed the migration direction of negatively buoyant MPs from downward to upward. Aging-induced changes in MP characteristics had a limited effect on MP vertical migration. The inherent characteristics of MPs and the surrounding environmental features, however, played major roles in their vertical migration dynamics. Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant global environmental concern and the coastal zones are the hotspots for MP pollution due to their high population density. This study comprehensively investigated the variations in the physiochemical characteristics of MPs undergoing various aging pathways. Their vertical migration patterns under dynamic conditions subjected to the effects of different MP characteristics and coastal environmental features were revealed. The roles of turbulence and MP density in their migration were identified. The findings of this study have important implications for understanding the transport and determining the ecological risks of MPs in coastal waters. [Display omitted] • Aging affected hydrophobic and hydrophilic microplastics' migration differently. • The effect of salinity and humic acid was related to microplastic surface charge. • Intense turbulence inverted the migration path of negatively buoyant microplastics. • Strong turbulence disrupted the effect of density on microplastic migration. • Correlation analyses revealed the key factors affecting microplastic migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Polypharmacy is a common issue, especially among elderly patients resulting in administration errors and patient inconvenience. Hypertension is a prevalent health condition that frequently leads to polypharmacy, as its treatment typically requires the co-administration of more than one different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API's). To address these issues, floating hollow torus-shaped dosage forms were developed, aiming at providing prolonged gastric retention and sustained drug release. The dosage forms (polypills) containing three anti-hypertensive API's (diltiazem (DIL), propranolol (PRP) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)) were created via Fused Deposition Modelling 3D printing. A multitude of the dosage forms were loaded into a capsule and the resulting formulation achieved prolonged retention times over a 12-hour period in vitro , by leveraging both the buoyancy of the dosage forms, and the "cheerios effect" that facilitates the aggregation and retention of the dosage forms via a combination of surface tension and shape of the objects. Physicochemical characterization methods and imaging techniques were employed to investigate the properties and the internal and external structure of the dosage forms. Furthermore, an ex vivo porcine stomach model revealed substantial aggregation, adhesion and retention of the 3D printed dosage forms in porcine stomach. In vitro dissolution testing demonstrated almost complete first-order release of PRP and DIL (93.52 % and 99.9 %, respectively) and partial release of HCTZ (65.22 %) in the 12 h timeframe. Finally, a convolution-based single-stage approach was employed in order to predict the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of the API's of the formulation and the resemblance of their PK behavior with previously reported data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of hydrogen production technology from offshore wind power and natural gas, the deep-sea energy interconnection system using hydrogen energy as the medium is constantly improving. The floating hydrogen liquefaction production storage and offloading unit (LH 2 -FPSO, FLH 2) is an effective method for large-scale utilization of offshore hydrogen energy. By filling the heat exchanger with ortho -parahydrogen conversion catalyst, a new porous medium heat exchange channel is formed. Integrating the spiral wound heat exchanger with the ortho -parahydrogen catalytic conversion reactor can reduce the deck area of FLH 2 process system and lower the investment cost of floating hydrogen liquefaction device. The performance of FLH 2 can be influenced by the offshore wave and typhoon. In this paper, the methods of floating cryogenic visualization experiment, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are conducted to study the coupled flow and heat transfer mechanism of working fluid applied in FLH 2 under offshore conditions. The results show that the sea state has little influence on the ortho -parahydrogen conversion and cooling process of hydrogen in the porous heat exchange tube. The complex flow and heat transfer challenges brought by the integrated process of new floating hydrogen liquefaction and ortho -parahydrogen conversion have been overcome. With the effect of co-current shear of gas-phase mixed refrigerant, a large dry area will not appear on the outer wall surface of porous tube under offshore conditions. The FLH 2 process system shows good adaptability at sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating pontoons have played a supreme and indispensable role in crises and disasters for both civil and military purposes. Floating bridges and ferries are exposed to blast loadings in the case of wars or terrorist attacks. The protection effectiveness of sacrificial cladding subjected to a blast was numerically investigated. In this study, a steel ferry has been simulated and exposed to side explosions with different explosive charges at certain stand-off distances, according to military standards from NATO and American standard TM5. In this simulation, nonlinear three-dimensional hydro-code numerical simulation ANSYS autodyn-3d has been used. The results reported that the ferry could withstand a charge of 5 kg TNT at a stand-off distance of 1 m without failure. The main objective of this research is to achieve a design that would increase the capacity against the blast loading with minimal plastic deformation in the absence of any failure in the ferry. Therefore, an innovative mitigation system has been proposed to dissipate the blast energy of the explosion based on the scientific theory of impedance using sacrificial cladding. The new mitigation system used a specific structural system in order to install the existing pontoon structure without any distraction. The response, elastic deformations, plastic deformations and plastic failure of the ferry were illustrated in this paper. Furthermore, the results revealed that the proposed mitigation system could mitigate more than 50% of the blast waves. The new design revealed promising results, which makes it suitable for mitigating blast waves. Finally, the results were provided with a reference for the preliminary design and application of sacrificial cladding for structural protection against blast waves.

Vegetation around springs and ponds causes water to re-infiltrate into the ground and recharge underground reservoirs. In the study of ponds and springs in Lorestan province, 108 species were identified which belong to 35 families and 64 genera. Depending on the habitat and life form, these species constitute emergent 41%, marginal 31%, floating 23%, and submerged 5%. Nuphar lutea were present in the habitat of the springhead of Niloufar and Potamogeton alpinus in the Gahar Lake and the Amir spring. Both habitats have cold and clear water with no contaminants. Typha latifolia is mostly found in Pol-e-Dokhtar tropical wetlands. The genera Carex, Cyprus, Juncus, Phragmites, Mentha, and Veronica were present in almost all wetland habitats and springs. In the springhead of Niloufar, where the pollutants are spread, Sparganium erectum and Sorghum halepense are highly concentrated but Nuphar lutea is very scattered. In most Peatlands, in addition to the marginal species, there was a perennial wild species called Hordeum brevisubulatum, which usually has spreading rhizomes. They were found in saturated and muddy soils. More than 81% of wetland species are present in more than one chorotype. In mountain springs and spring wetlands, endemic species of Rorippa kurdica were present but limited, probably due to dispersal barriers or special habitat conditions. Failure to pay attention to wetlands as storage sponges and water infiltration will lead to species extinction and ecological damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Floating hip fractures are severe and rare injuries with high complication rate and lack of standard management. The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the outcomes of a case series of polytraumatized patients with floating hip injuries, in order to describe the relationship between complication rate and floating hip injury type, the pathomechanism of injury, and the surgical treatment strategy. Methods: Forty-five patients with floating hip injuries were analyzed. Complication rate, mechanism of injury, and surgical strategy (damage control orthopedics, stages of internal fixation) were recorded. Fractures were classified using the Mueller system for floating hips and AO/OTA system for the other fractures. Results: Of the 45 patients with floating hip injuries, 23 (51.1%) developed complications. The results revealed that the complication rate was associated with the instability and type of the pelvic or acetabular fracture (61-C AO/OTA pelvic fracture [73.3%; p = 0.04], 62-B AO/OTA acetabular fracture [88.8%; p = 0.03]). Vertical shear (VS) pelvic fractures were related to middle-distal femoral fractures and lateral compression/anteroposterior compression (LC/APC) pelvic lesions were associated to proximal femoral fractures (p = 0.012). Conclusions: Complications were associated with the severity and instability of the pelvic and acetabular type of fractures. The pathomechanism causing Mueller type B and C floating hip injuries was illustrated. A two-stage "femur first" surgical approach was the preferred one for definite internal fixation of fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food powders often exhibit hydrophobic surface areas. To understand the effect of corresponding wettability variations on particle floating, which critically influences powder reconstitution, we studied floating of glass beads after creating surface heterogeneity by spraying cocoa butter. Force-position curves were recorded to characterise contact line pinning. Floating of particles with surface heterogeneities comprised a dynamic phase, which to our knowledge has not been reported previously. Measured forces varied due to contact line pinning/depinning. The results indicate that the dynamic floating phase is caused by gradual depinning. Steady-state floating is reached once pinning is sufficiently pronounced. We also demonstrate that surface heterogeneities complicate theoretical predictions of particle floating. The use of sessile drop contact angles for modelling was identified as an important source of error, as weak pinning points can affect contact angles but are oftentimes overcome during floating. Moreover, local pinning effects are not necessarily represented by a sessile drop. [Display omitted] • Distributed hydrophobic defects significantly affect particle floating. • Floating of particles with surface heterogeneities comprises a dynamic phase. • The height of the wettability contrast affects floating position and kinetics. • Force-position curves show contact line pinning at surface defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the mental models of students about suspending objects in liquid fluid. The study used a descriptive qualitative method and implemented crosssectional approach. It involved 57 students from grade 5 of elementary school to fourthyear prospective physics teachers. The data collection used a test consisting of twenty-six essay and four multiple-choice items, which covered several contexts and factors. The data were analyzed by adapted phenomenographic procedures and integrated with some stages of thematic analysis. The types of mental models that were successfully explored include the density-, mass-, weight-, volume-, and gravity-based model, leaked boat model, air as a floater model, etc. The predominant students’ mental model was the initial one, followed by the synthetic and scientific level, respectively, and the adopted mental models tended to form a hierarchy based on the grade of students. The results showed that the suspending models tended to be adopted and was influenced by the mental model in the floating and sinking contexts. This result confirms the findings of previous studies, which stated that mental models depend on the context of the phenomenon being presented. The existence of variations in the students' mental models for reasoning about density and depiction of suspending objects revealed gaps in the consolidation of their mental models. In learning activities, it is not enough to teach the concepts of floating and sinking. Hence, an adequate portion for the suspending concept must be provided by depicting various object positions and emphasizing a more conceptual of density-based model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]